Asima Ensemble at Alchemy 2013

Asima is a vocal and percussion ensemble from Trivandrum in Kerala, South India. With a name meaning "beyond boundaries" in Sanskrit, Asima combine element from India’s rhythmic and melodic systems with harmonic traditions of Western music.

The group is made up of five singers (Anil Ram, Gokul Bhaskaran, Anoop Sivanandan, Anoop Mohandas and Khalid), along with Tao Issaro (percussion), Sajith Padmanabhan (South Indian drums), Yakzan Periera (keyboard) and Ben Sam Jones (guitar and bass). They performed at the BBC Proms in 2009 as well as in Kuwait, Taiwan and the USA.

The music of Asima is composed by Devissaro, and Australian-born musician who has lived in India since 1980. He began his initial musical training in classical piano, but Devissaro has since studied Hindustani (North Indian classical) music as well as pakhwaj and bansuri. The singers in the group are trained in Carnatic (South Indian classical) music, and together with Devissaro they create music that effortlessly blends both Western and Indian classical music into one.

The ensemble will be a part of London Southbank Centre’s Alchemy festival later this month, and will be performing in the Foyer Spaces of the Southbank Centre on Friday, April 12th at 1:00pm and Saturday April 13th at 6:30pm. The events are free of charge, and you’ll also have a chance to check out some of the other events going on as part of the festival. Click here to read more!